Return of a cannabis legalization project in Delaware

Cannabis legalization is back on the agenda in Delaware. The author of a reform bill which was rejected by the House Government officials last month presented two new, complementary measures to implement this policy change. This new initiative appears to have at least the provisional support of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, who is otherwise opposed to legalization.

Rep. Ed Osienski’s first attempt to pass a measure to tax and regulate cannabis for adult use failed. Although it received a majority of votes, the measure was rejected by the House, falling two votes short of passage.

Today, lawmakers are back with a different approach. They introduced two bills at the end of last month: one of them would simply legalize the possession and sharing of up to one ounce of cannabis (approximately 28 grams) for adults aged 21 and older, and the other would establish specific regulations for the cannabis trade that are largely similar to the previous bill, which was rejected by the House.

Osienski’s reasoning behind this two-pronged approach is strategic. Since the first bill would simply eliminate criminal penalties for certain marijuana-related activities, it would require only a simple majority to pass. And he has already secured those votes on the previous legalization bill.

If the House approves this bill, it «would put additional pressure on some colleagues to say, «OK, it’s legal now. To do things right, we need to create an industry that will provide these services now,»”, said a legislator on Delaware Public Radio.

This additional pressure might even convince House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf, who was the only Democrat in the House to have voted against the previous legalization bill.

In a radio interview By WHYY, the Speaker of the House said he still intended to vote «no» on the straightforward legalization proposal, but that he might well vote «yes» on the separate legalization legislation if the first bill were passed first despite his objections.

«If you’re going to tell me that cannabis is legal and then come back to me later and say, «Well, it’s legal—are you going to tax it?» My vote will probably be in favor,» he said.

«I'm not voting for the cannabis. »I’m simply voting to tax cannabis, which everyone has made legal,« said Mr. Schwartzkopf, adding that he has long believed legalization is inevitable and that if he isn’t going to »help« it move forward, he isn’t going to »stop it .”.